Chapter 4

The next few days were a blur of fear.

David called, panicked. Noah had tried to "phase" through their living room wall, just like a character in Cosmic Critters. He had a bruised forehead and was terrified.

Jessica texted that Ethan was caught trying to build a "rocket" in their garage using bleach and ammonia. She' d gotten there just in time.

These "missions" were becoming more dangerous.

Detective Miller called a meeting with the affected parents and Ms. Albright.

"We found something near where Chloe fell," he said, his face grim. He held up a plastic evidence bag. Inside was a small, hand-drawn card.

It showed a stick-figure girl with a sheet-cape, flying towards a puffy cloud. Written underneath in childish lettering: "Welcome home, Chloe."

"The art style," Miller said, "it's too sophisticated for a five-year-old. The perspective, the shading on the cloud, however faint."

We all stared at it. It was crude, yet... not quite a child's work.

I went home, my heart heavy. The house was too quiet. I found Leo in the kitchen.

He was standing on a chair, reaching for the cleaning supplies under the sink.

"Leo! What are you doing?"

He jumped, startled. Bleach, window cleaner, dish soap were on the counter. He was trying to pour them into his sippy cup.

"I' m making Star-Power Soda," he sobbed, tears streaming down his face. "Mr. Giggles told me how. He said it would make me strong so I can do my mission."

He held out a small, folded piece of paper. Another card.

This one showed a boy drinking from a cup, then rocketing into the sky. "Your turn soon, Leo," it read.

I took the card. The drawing style. It was distinct. Slightly shaky lines, as if drawn with care but by an unsteady hand. And the stars around the boy... they were drawn in a very specific way.

And it was clearly left-handed. The slant of the letters, the way the lines were pulled.